Y’know, there were commercials when it originally aired, too. 
The scene where Harry shows up to tell Leland Laura is dead (don’t worry, this isn’t a spoiler) was when I first realized this was going to be a great show. Sarah has called him, frantic, and he’s starting to get a little worried. He sits on the couch and then in the background, the sheriff’s jeep comes up fast and screeches to a stop right behind him. That’s just fantastic direction.
–Cliffy
I’ve taped all the episodes that have aired so far, but have only gotten a chance to watch the pilot and the episode after it so far, since I’m watching it with a busy person.
Does there end up being an insane hairdresser that is murdered at some point in the series? I suppose it’s shallow, but my god, not a one of them has a haircut that isn’t frightening 
So far it’s not as weird as I expected, but I guess that’s built up to. One of the sole memories I have of the show is walking by the living room on the way to the bathroom and glancing at the screen while my parents were watching it: there a midget spoke in tongues or something. Apparently that takes place later in the series!
Not too much later – the first appearance of the Man from Another Place is in episode #2.
I’m bumping this thread, because I want to know if elfkin477 has gotten caught up in his/her viewing, and what his/her opinion of the show is at this point.
I bought the ep #1-7 DVD last week, and last night I managed to track down a video store that rents the rest of the episodes on VHS. I watched #8-9 last night, and I am delighted to report that this show is still freaking scary no matter how many times I see it. And the fear isn’t a “BOO!” jumpy fear, but a slow, wide-eyed horror that paralyzes.
One of the things I love most about the show are the quick shifts in mood that are so artfully pulled off – a scene can go from charmingly amusing to menacing or grave, all in an instant, and your emotions flow along with it. (Most of the scenes in the early episodes involving Leland Palmer are like good examples.) But it’s not that the scene is contrived or manipulative – the emotions come naturally. That’s brilliant.